JWP Wants to fight in the UFC

Be awesome to see JWP in the UFC Awesome Muay Thai fighter masive respect for the guy.

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LEGENDARY Gold Coast fighter ''John'' Wayne Parr is embarking on a mission to land a spot in the UFC.

Parr, a 10-time world Muay Thai champion, will trial for the upcoming reality television show The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs Canada as he puts any thoughts of retirement firmly on the backburner.

Contestants have the chance to win a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship the world's biggest combat sports competition.

The Coast had two contestants in the last instalment of the show with Coolangatta's Ben Alloway now a UFC fighter.

Parr, a veteran of 115 Muay Thai fights, said he was determined to make it big in the world of mixed martial arts despite recently turning 37.

''Muay Thai has gone a little bit stale and UFC has taken over,'' he said.

''The only way to get into the spotlight these days is to step into the cage.

''I still give the young guys a hard time in the gym.

''Earlier in the year I went to Canada and got to spar (UFC star) Georges St Pierre with Muay Thai and I was all over him.

''He said he'd never been hit so much in his whole career.

''That gave me motivation.''

In the meantime Parr has created the UFC-inspired CMT Caged Muay Thai.

There is the cage, the four-ounce gloves and the lethal punches, kicks, knees and elbows. The one big difference is there is no wrestling.

Once an opponent hits the canvas the referee halts the bout and applies a count. The fight is either finished or resumes with both opponents on their feet.

''It's taking a tough sport to the next level,'' he says.

Parr is an international superstar in Muay Thai. He is also an accomplished boxer. However after 25 years in the square ring he was transfixed by the cage.

''I have had more than 100 fights, but I was jealous of those that were fighting in the cage,'' he admits.

Parr staged his first CMT tournament in June last year and then a second in October. The third is expected to be a sell-out event at the Logan Metro on July 6.

Parr is not only the creator and promoter of CMT, he is also the headline act. On July 6 he will take on Dutch world Muay Thai champion Marco Pique before focusing more on wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

I have to wonder why a man with a winning record like his has to earn a spot in the UFC. Several other kickboxers with fight records nowhere near as impressive have been imported straight to the UFC without having to participate in the Ultimate Fighter.

I saw JWP's previous MMA fight, unless he's been training grappling everyday since.. he will get murdered by any starting MMA pro.

They told as at the last TUF tryouts that there was an age cap, i guess they can waive it for certain people?

"Boxing is the art of hitting an opponent from the furthest distance away, exposing the least amount of your body while getting into position to punch with maximum leverage and not getting hit."
Kenny Weldon

I have to wonder why a man with a winning record like his has to earn a spot in the UFC. Several other kickboxers with fight records nowhere near as impressive have been imported straight to the UFC without having to participate in the Ultimate Fighter.

Let him fight as soon as he feels he is ready.

Oh come now, we all know the TUF series is a marketing tool for the UFC and to a lesser extent the fighters themselves. JWP on TUF would get the UFC a greater audience there, and give him additional time to build up his grappling skills.